Friendship in black and white.
Photography days #19.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Friendship
Reply
The right way to go
I was searching for a sign
the right way to go
I found it in an unexpected spot
and the sign did clearly show
in which direction to embark
it was the sign - I know
Photography days #17.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Memory
My capacious memory
encompasses all my life
an unenduring legacy
to be cut sometime
by death’s knife
Poetry days #20.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Spin
I never stopped the world
the world it never stopped me
until the day I forgot to pay
homage to nature’s way
the time I wrecked the world
was the time the world wrecked me
my influence and consequence
heated it by degrees
oh it kept spinning assuredly
you might claim there was no problem
but on the surface I
directed its death and then some
I am man,
I said I can.
What am I bid?
So, I did
Poetry days #18.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Bessie
bessie is a bear
loved by our son
tucked under his chin
when he was young
now bessie is a bear
loved by his daughter
the love in bessie bear
has well and truly caught her
Photography days #17.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Tableland Talk November 2024
Birdsong
The bird that spoke that first perfect note
was a revelation to its kin
because she could sing so beautifully
the other birds decided to join in
some of the birds variations heard
they felt they could do better
so they sang with melodies that made
the landscape ring
and to each note
gave a letter
a chorus formed of singing birds
who organised their songs
into works of art
many species took part
and for the choir
others came along
a feud broke out all about
which birds sang best of the rest
unresolved each species kept
their songs close to their chest
and so today when you hear each
sing their special tweet
be mindful that this is why
only one song can each species
ever repeat
Poetry days #16.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
In death
The lips are thin their colour grey
the hair is dull and lank
the skin is pallid
tugor at bay
the smell is fetid, rank
the wound is swollen
putrid, reddened
exposed are tissue and bone
what man lies here
dead and neglected?
what inspired him to roam?
the war that left him lying here
alone on hardened ground
did abandon him
as all wars will
to his silence amongst
the furious sound
what home did he leave?
what cause was his?
that left him so cold and pale
so far from where he began
so distant from a family’s wail
with no one to grieve his lost soul
with none to respectfully lay him deep
we will take him to yet another hole
we will bury him amongst the others
in yet another heap
Poetry days #15.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Alone
I never loved another
no other ever loved me
then how is it that I know love
and what it is that love should be
love is always on my mind
a want of love so kind
yet when I see others in love
it only serves to remind
me of my days alone
such a feeling of unease
should I ever bring love home
I’ll ever strive to please
Poetry days #14.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want Ai to use my work.
Doing #02
If he, she or they can choose to do something pleasing or satisfying, it is quite likely that you can choose to do something pleasing or satisfying too.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Doing #01
Why watch virtual stuff when you could be out in the real world enjoying a real activity or applying your own creativity – and probably having more fun while you do?
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Barber
The Barber of Seville
has loops of hair
fit to kill
a mo to rival any other
and an affinity for
his longhaired brothers.
Photography days #20.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Oxygen
Friendship is like oxygen.
Photography days #18.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
hero-maker
above the field the hero-maker
exercises leadership inspired
massing forces across the vale
with support in plenty provided
the gunsmiths make the guns
the gun-handlers pass weapons along
the gun-runners deliver them
to gunners firing on song
on the field the trap-maker
casts nets and snares wide
able-bodies and deft-hands ready
to relieve the fallen and retired
the charging-mob is subdued
by strategy and power
out-flanked and out-thought
they charge prop then cower
injector-darts hit each target
unconscious they drop and fall
collected quickly from the field
be-gathered one and all
each beast is agentle-laid
weighed and length measured
teeth and health are checked
body-secured then tethered
bio-tags are clipped to ears
before the waking beasts astir
safe-release is carefully planned
returned unharmed to where they were
across the remnant-wilderness
against disease and deceit
conservation-heroes monitor life
resisting extinction and defeat
Today’s dVerse prompt is from Bjorn to use “kennings” or new compound words to create meaning in a poem as a way to continue the evolution of language.
Poetry days #37
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Dreams
There is no defence
dreams will come
dreams will come
where there seems no reference
there will be some
there is some
think deep and wonder what
is a dream
a separate reality split at the seam
or a theme
streamed on moonbeams
telling a story
you might not have heard
guiding and reminding you
without literal word
you might get it wrong
you might get it right
paying attention to the night
because in dreams come the stories
whether happy or fraught
of the life we are living
significant or short
Poetry days #37.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. Mural by Adnate. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Pokey
Poetry #21.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Wheat
Millions of hectares and more
under the scorching sun
the ripening crop a massive store
of protein again begun
drying off yellowing
all one plant just one
finally ready for harvesting
ton after ton after ton
wheat rain heat
rain heat wheat
repeat
Poetry days #19.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
My velvet declaration of love – the kiss
Poetry days #17.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Agitato
Poetry days #17. I wrote this during covid and can’t remember if it ever went onto the blog. Apologies if you have read it before and were looking forward to something new.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles
Ref: Photos are of my copy of ‘Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” by The Beatles. Songs written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. All lyrics copyright 1967 for the world by Northern Songs Ltd. England. E. M. I. Records Parlophone (The Gramophone Co. Ltd.). Hayes – Middlesex – England. Made and printed in Great Britain. Produced by George Martin. Cover by M C Productions and The Apple. Staged by Peter Blake and Jann Horwarth photographed by Micael Cooper. Wax figures by Madame Tussauds. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
The first song I remember on the radio went "yeah, yeah, yeah"
and I was hooked by The Beatles ever after
consequently I grew my hair, hair, hair
and started collecting their records with a passion
their sound, their humour, their fashion and flair
saw me seeking out everything about them
I kept stories and photographs in scrap books with care
each song, disc and artwork a gem
with Sgt Pepper came another cultural dare
vivid record store window displays everywhere
I would walk into the stores to simply stare
at the remarkable gatefold covers before me
the front was a collage of iconic people paired
with the centrefold image of musical royalty
the back was a lyric sheet with every song bared
the sleeve a psychedelic wave of pink glory
Sgt Pepper cardboard cutouts were such a fun share
and the concept all came together
in the music of this diverse alter ego so rare
that my musical interests exploded
Sgt Pepper anecdote note float
Being a child, I had no money to buy this masterpiece
the cover art alone had me longing for a copy
at least on the radio they let it play, play, play
I listened, listened, listened
every day, day, day
when money was finally raised, raised, raised
enough to make my purchase
I rushed to the record store
I rushed to my home
I removed the inner sleeve
I gently slid out the immaculate shiny black vinyl disc
I put the record on the turntable
I ever so carefully lowered the needle
I turned out the lights
I sat midway between the speakers
with the album cover on my lap
my head resting back
my eyes closed
and for the first time
I heard the whole album through
'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
to 'A Day In the Life' ending with "Lucy Annie Allouette" (reversed tape repeating)
uninterrupted
floating high into this musical heaven created by musical gods
I was transported to a new world of artistic possibility
I praised, praised, praised
This week’s DVerse prompt is from Mish, Poetics: Inspired by Album Cover Art. I collect LPs as a hobby, so it was tough finding the right criteria for making a selection. But then I discovered I didn’t need to. The Sgt Pepper album cover is self selecting because it paved the way for everything wonderful that was to come. As much as I love all kinds of music and vinyl album art, it was The Beatles who paved the way for me.
Poetry Days #28
All poems are my own and subject to copyright. See the reference for cover art images sourced above. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
The Balconies
This ancient place
of an ancient race
is nature's gallery
viewed from a balcony
Photography days #16
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Air Show #03
Photography days #15.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Prahran pool from the outside
They're swimming in the water
they're sunning on the bleachers
they're traditional old school
public pool
loving creatures
Photography days #14.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
A shocking story
Oh my God!
I never knew!
who would have thought,
they could do that to you?
Photography days #13.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want Ai to use my work.
Truth and beauty
Each night I met a truthful man who never told a lie
of the future did he speak
of what would come, by and by
I spoke to him of beauty of all the colours I did spy
of the art in human hands
of nature’s talk and saddening cry
we talked for many hours each eve until time came for us to leave
our evensong was together sung
for truth and beauty were as one
in truth humankind will wound the earth in ways terrifying and beautiful
in beauty nature will restore its worth
after humankind is stilled
Poetry days #13.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
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